by Deb Lee, BRCA Heritage and CGH Commemoration Project
In previous articles we’ve shared progress at the Calgary General Hospital – from the first x-ray machine and blood transfusions to innovative diabetes outpatient clinics and surgical techniques. In order to provide up to date health care, new diagnostic tests and technology were adopted wherever possible. Expectations of the public and the pace of change picked up in the 1980s. The mission statement was updated and focused not only on treatment of disease and injury but also addressed prevention and optimizing wellbeing.
‘The General’ was “the place” for rehabilitation in Calgary since 1960s but in the 1980s a new connection to the University of Calgary Medical School resulted in a “Centre of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine”. With its medical leadership, the bar on rehab services was significantly raised. More research was possible and further innovation happened.
Rehabilitation also expanded into the area of cardiac care. At that time a “heart attack” could be a devastating diagnosis and many were left in a debilitated condition. Under the leadership of Dr. Don Meldrum, the Cardiac Rehab Program had the goal of helping patients return to full functioning. An interdisciplinary team worked not only with the patient but also included their family. After hospital discharge, the patients attended education and exercise classes, along with lifestyle guidance over the 15-week program. Afterward many participants continued with an exercise program available at a local YMCA. Patient status was evaluated after several months and six years, with good outcomes shown.
Support for the Cardiac Rehab Program came from many sources. Volunteers ran a support program for cardiac patients known as “Heart to Heart Society”. After their football careers, the Forzani brothers, who had grown up in Bridgeland, became owners of a popular sport store. They started the annual Mother’s Day race and from mid-80s to ‘90s, the proceeds were directed to ‘the General’s’ Cardiac Rehab program.
Car accidents were a regular occurrence in that era and too often involved young people and alcohol. Alarming statistics of lives lost or forever altered by these “accidents” were the motivator for Calgary General Hospital staff to create a new prevention program called “PARTY” – Prevention of Alcohol Related Trauma for Youth. Classes of grade 9 students were invited to the hospital and toured the Emergency, ICU, and Rehabilitation units and spoke to individuals who were recovering from serious accidents. These conversations and the difficult experience of eating lunch simulating a person with brain injury or quadriplegia, brought home the profound consequence of drinking and driving for these young people. Perhaps this contributed to a changed outlook, as today’s youth are much more likely to arrange for a designated driver and arrive home safely.
For many decades, each of Calgary’s hospitals was a separate entity with its own Board and operated its own laundry. In September 1983, after years of collaboration, the Calgary Hospitals Regional Laundry opened on the General Hospital site. A first in Canada, it provided laundry service at one site for Calgary nursing homes and all hospitals except Foothills Medical Centre. This collaboration was very cost effective and enabled the purchase of energy saving, efficient technology that allowed for processing of 12.6 million lbs of soiled laundry per year or 6,720 lbs per hour. That’s a lot of dirty laundry!
These developments were just scratching the surface of progress that took place at the Calgary General Hospital in the 1980s and ‘90s. Watch for future articles about the world class Trauma Program and innovative approaches to Psychiatry at ‘the General’.
Click here to the Bridgeland Community News home page for the latest Bridgeland community updates.
